Acoustix

This dynamic foursome has been electrifying audiences around the world for over 20 years. Acoustix has appeared on CNN, NBC's "Today Show," TNN's "The Statler Brothers Show," and two PBS specials. At the turn of the 21st century, Acoustix performed for a global audience of 175 million viewers on "ABC 2000," hosted by Peter Jennings.

Their most recent national television appearance was performing the Star Spangled Banner for game six of the 2007 NBA Finals. Acoustix has shared the stage with many talented acts, including The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, LeAnn Rimes, The Dixie Chicks, The King's Singers, Mitch Miller, Isaac Stern, Pete Fountain, Victor Borge, The Four Freshmen, The Gatlins, The Canadian Brass, The Dallas Wind Symphony, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Acoustix recently contributed their talents to two new Bill Gaither Homecoming video projects, Amazing Grace, released in August of 2007 and Rock of Ages, released in April of 2008. Some of the other artists involved included Randy Owen, the Oak Ridge Boys, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, the Gaither Vocal Band, the Isaacs and Brenda Lee.

The quartet has made close to 1000 appearances in 47 states of the USA and six provinces of Canada. Bookings outside North America have taken the quartet to Japan, Great Britain, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Germany, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland. Traveling to well over 300 cities around the globe, from Carnegie Hall in New York, Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto to Muse Arc Hall in Tokyo, Acoustix has performed in some of the greatest concert venues in the world.

Acoustix predominantly a cappella repertoire showcases a wide variety of musical styles including Vocal Jazz, Gospel, Sacred, Doo-Wop, Contemporary Christian, Patriotic, Inspirational music and even a bit of Barbershop Harmony. From a standard like "Bye-Bye Blackbird" to "I Get Around" from the Beach Boys, to a collection of hits from Simon & Garfunkel, to John Philip Sousa's "Stars & Stripes Forever," Acoustix sings a broad variety of musical selections that appeal to audiences of all ages.

The quartet has collaborated with some of the greatest vocal arrangers in the business, including Gene Puerling, Dr. Kirby Shaw and Mervyn Warren, to name a few.

Acoustix has produced five CD projects since 1991 and have appeared on another 21 audio and video releases. Their latest disc, "O Worship The King" continues their tradition of exploring different musical genres. Two of their releases, "Cool Yule" and "Jazz, Jazz, Jazz," have garnered a combined three nominations for a CARA (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award) in three different categories. Cuts from their first two discs "Stars & Stripes" and "The New Science of Sound" have been included in American Airlines "in-flight" audio programming.

Todd Wilson, Jason January, Rick Middaugh, and Joel T. Rutherford share a combined 100+ years of stage and studio vocal experience. Their emphasis on ENTERTAINMENT has helped create a loyal group of fans. Some of these folks have been known to fly or drive 1000+ miles to see Acoustix perform "live." In 2000, the quartet received an A cappella Community Award for Favorite Barbershop Group from the Contemporary A cappella Society of America.

Discography

Review: Songs of inspiration and faith from one of America's most favorite quartets. The versatile, Gold Medal-winning quartet is best known as a barbershop group, but "Jazz, Jazz , Jazz" proved they could do jazz with the best of them, and now we have "O Worship," a state of the art gospel CD, filled with Acoustix' trademark rich, perfectly blended harmonies. The group is joined by The Toronto Northern Lights Chorus and the arrangements are by legends Gene Puerling, Kirby Shaw, Jim Clancy, Jay Giallombardo plus Acoustix' own Joel T. Rutherford. 12 songs: the title tune, "My Lord and I," "You'll Never Walk Alone," "Fear Not, My Child," "I'll Fly Away Medley," "Hymns of the Cross Medley," " Breathe on Me, Breath of God," " Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "My Tribute," "What Wondrous Love is This/O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," "The Lord's Prayer" and "Anthems/Ode to Joy." These cover a wide range of musical styles with the common theme of voices in praise. Another winner from Acoustix!

Review: Acoustix are one of the most consistently impressive barbershop groups performing today. "Cool Yule," their first holiday-themed recording, will add to their legend. Greg Volk arranged several songs, including "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch," (sung by bass Joel Rutherford, who also contributed two arrangements). Two Beach Boys scores, "Auld Lang Syne" and "Little Saint Nick," and a Mervyn Warren (of Take 6) chart, "The First Noel," show the quartet's burgeoning versatility, and it sounds great. For those listeners who prefer Acoustix to stay close to their barbershop origins, the locked-in chords of "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" and "Mary Had A Baby" will be a treat. About half accompanied in swinging big band style.

Review: It is only two years after the first album which was pure classical barbershop. On Stars & Stripes the same perfectly pitched close harmonies are in full bloom but the repertoire is expanded considerably. There is a rousing selection of patriotic songs, "The Stars and Stripes Forever," "The Star Spangled Banner," "God Bless The USA" and more! In the middle of the lineup we find a touch of jazz and then barberwop on "Unchained Melody." Acoustix is joined by Panache, the 1990 Queens of Harmony, for two songs on which they sing quartet duets. They do a chills up the back rendition of "This Is The Moment" just before closing with "So Many Voices Sing America's Song" on which they are joined by The American Pops Orchestra and The Vocal Majority. Stunning!

Songlist: The Stars and Stripes Forever, The Star Spangled Banner, God Bless The USA, A Song Like Daddy Used To Play, Blackbird Medley, Unchained MedleyWarren "Buzz" Haeger, And So To Sleep Again, If There's Anybody Here From Out Of Town, God Bless America, This Is The Moment, So Many Voices Sing America's Song

Review: Dallas, Texas is the home of the Vocal Majority. From this exalted platform lept three of the four Acoustix members Jeff, Todd and Jason. Rick joined them from the Town North Chorus, an across town rival. Collectively they performed a one-in-a-million feat by sweeping their four state preliminary competition to go to San Francisco for the SPEBSQSA International Quartet Championship where they won the gold medal in their first attempt at the competition! Let the perfect harmonies and dynamics, which won the hearts and ears of that crowd of 9,000 in 1990, move you right now. Listen to barbershop's finest whom the judges felt were the best in the world!

Songlist: When it Comes To Lovin' The Girls/They're All Sweeties , Medley So Long Mother, World War 1 Medley, River Of No Return, I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover, That's An Irish Lullaby, Tonight, Tonight, If I Loved You, After Today, Irish Blessing, I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over

Review: Rewarding loyal fans after years of anticipation, Acoustix presents a cache of songs guaranteed to please a wide variety of listeners. Their opening statement, the title tune "Jazz, Jazz, Jazz," is performed in homage to the greats of the era: Nat, Benny, Frank, and of course, the Four Freshmen, to whom Acoustix pay tribute throughout this album. This is not music for barbershop fans only, though the characteristic purity of the voices and seventh chords endemic to the genre are still very much in evidence. Indeed, five of the songs feature orchestral accompaniment in the big band style: "Jazz, Jazz, Jazz," "Day by Day," "Poinciana," "Graduation Day/It's a Blue World" and "Route 66." Guest vocalists Jim Clancy, Greg Clancy and Wendy Wilson DeCrow (of Vocal Majority) augment the much-anticipated Gene Puerling arrangement of "Unforgetable" (Jim and Greg) and "The Nearness of You." (Other arrangements on the CD were done by the renowned Greg Volk.) The closing medley of Simon and Garfunkel hits reveals yet another side of this amazing quartet's range and prowess.